Jakarta, Indonesia — Pope Francis appeared in good health and good spirits on Wednesday as he began the first full day of what will be a marathon trip through Southeast Asia and Oceania for the 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church. Over the 12 days, Francis will travel more than 32,000 kilometers and visit four countries – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.

It is set to be the longest and most demanding journey of Francis’ 11-year term in office. He has struggled with health problems in recent years and is now in a wheelchair.

The Vatican said that no special precautions had been taken for this trip, but that Francis was traveling with a doctor and two nurses as usual.

In conversation with CBS Evening News anchor and editor-in-chief Norah O’Donnell in May, Francis said the thought of resigning had never occurred to him, and he described his health as “good,” despite a recent battle with the flu and two rounds Colorectal surgeryThe Pope also had only a full lung since he had to undergo an operation as a young man in Argentina that left him susceptible to respiratory diseases.

In his first speech in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, Francis condemned religious extremism, saying it distorts religion through deception and violence.

“There are times when faith can be manipulated to foment divisions and incite hatred,” the pope told Indonesian politicians and religious leaders gathered at the presidential palace in Jakarta, urging them to combat religious intolerance through dialogue.

“In this way,” he said, “prejudices can be reduced and a climate of mutual respect and trust can be created.”

Freedom of religion is protected in the Indonesian constitution and the country prides itself on its diversity and tolerance. However, Islamic fundamentalism has taken hold and there have been incidents of religious violence in recent years.

On Wednesday, Francis also met with Indonesian Catholic priests and nuns in the cathedral in Jakarta and offered them words of encouragement and support.

On Thursday, Francis is scheduled to celebrate Mass in Jakarta with the country’s Catholics, a tiny but vibrant minority of barely three percent of the population. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the few regions in the world where Catholicism is growing, both in terms of the number of baptized believers and the number of vocations.

On Thursday, the Pope is also expected to meet with Indonesia’s leading Muslim religious leader. The two will sign a joint declaration on humanitarian and environmental issues as well as religious tolerance.